How to Prevent Bed Bugs

If you read my last Blog- Bed Bugs- What to Look for, then you are probably itching and ready to check every room in your house if you haven’t already! I know I did after learning all of that! So now you’re probably asking what can I do to prevent Bed Bugs from coming in. If you’ve already had an infestation stay tuned for my next blog and I’ll help you too!

It’s much easier to prevent bed bugs from coming in than it is to get rid of them once they are in your house. According to the 2013 Bugs without Borders survey bed bugs remain the most difficult pest to treat – more difficult than cockroaches, termites and ants! Follow these tips from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Health.com to help prevent Bed Bugs from coming in to your house!

In Public Places

1. Reduce clutter. Clutter serves as an ideal habitat for bed bugs whether at home, school or office. By reducing clutter in your workplace or school, you provide fewer places for the bed bugs to hide and fewer opportunities for them to hitchhike to your home.

2. Keep your belongings stowed separately from those of other people. If there is a known problem with bed bugs in the office or school, consider storing your belongings in a plastic bin.

3. Be vigilant in areas where bed bugs are most likely to be found, which include break rooms, storage areas (coat closets or cubbies), offices or lounges with upholstered furniture, or areas where people may rest.

Protect Your HomeBed bugs are great hitchhikers. They can move from an infested site to a new home by traveling on furniture, bedding, luggage, boxes, and clothing.

Although they typically feed on blood every five to ten days, bed bugs can be quite resilient; they are capable of surviving several months to a year without feeding.

1. Check secondhand furniture, beds, and couches for any signs of bed bug infestation (see Blog – Bed Bugs – What to look for ) before bringing them home.

2. Use a protective cover that encases mattresses and box springs and eliminates many hiding spots. The light color of the encasement makes bed bugs easier to see. Be sure to purchase a high quality encasement that will resist tearing and check the encasements regularly for holes. ( Watch the video below to see the Fully Encased Mattress Protectors that we offer at Mindy’s Ohio Mattress. These Protectors from Protect a Bed are the ONLY Fully encased mattress protectors with the Patented Bug Lock Secure Seal)

3. Reduce clutter in your home to reduce hiding places for bed bugs

4. Vacuum frequently to remove any successful hitchhikers

5. Be vigilant when using shared laundry facilities. Transport items to be washed in plastic bags (if you have an active infestation, use a new bag for the journey home). Remove from dryer directly into bag and fold at home. (A dryer on high heat can kill bed bugs.)

6. If you live in a multi-family home, try to isolate your unit by:
Installing door sweeps on the bottom of doors to discourage movement into hallways.
Sealing cracks and crevices around baseboards, light sockets, etc., to discourage movement through wall voids.

While Traveling

1. Go straight to the bathroom- stash your luggage in the bathroom in there until you’ve had time to inspect the room. Bed bugs are least likely to be in the bathroom on the cold tile floor. There are less hiding places there and it’s further from where people are sleeping.

2. Check the room completely. Refer back to my Blog- Bed Bugs- What to Look for

3. After you have checked your room thoroughly and found it to be Bed Bug Free you still need to take preventive measures. Don’t leave your suitcase or clothes laying on the bed or floor. Put them on the dresser. They could still crawl over from a room next to you so don’t take any unnecessary chances. For even more protection consider purchasing ThermalStrike Heated Luggage to kill any Bed Bugs that might be trying to hitch hike back home with you!

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